Nations discuss fresh bid to create world's largest marine park

The meeting will again consider a push to protect 1.6 million square kilometres around East Antarctica.

Emma Carlos: User submitted

The future of what would be the world's largest marine reserve could be decided at a meeting in Hobart this week.

A fresh bid to have areas of the ocean off East Antarctica and a revised protection plan for the Ross Sea are being discussed by the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

Hundreds of scientists began discussions on Monday and delegates will begin their meeting tomorrow.

Two main proposals will be considered.

High on the agenda is a proposal to create a series of marine protected areas off East Antarctica, covering 1.6 million square kilometres.

It would effectively ban fishing in the last pristine marine environment on earth.

Australia, France and the European Union are pushing for the change and most of CCAMLR's 25 members support it, but Russia's position is unclear.

Another proposed protected zone for the Ross Sea, jointly suggested by the US and New Zealand, has been reduced by 40 per cent, after Russia and the Ukraine blocked the plan at CCAMLR's last meeting in Germany in July.

Russia holds lucrative fishing licences in the area and raised legal objections.

If the new bid succeeds it would result in the protection of 1.25 million square kilometres.

What is CCAMLR?

A group of 25 bodies (24 nations and the EU)

Established by international convention in 1982 to conserve Antarctic marine life.

Set up in response to increasing commercial interest in Antarctic krill resources.

Secretariat based in Hobart, Australia.

It is understood Norway will now support the creation of the protected areas after holding initial reservations about the zones' impact on its fishing industry.

Conservationists lobbying for the park are being led by the Antarctic Ocean Alliance.

Spokesman Steven Campbell says it is important to protect the areas "while its key ocean ecosystems are still intact."

The countries that make up CCAMLR need to show real leadership to deliver on their commitments to establish a network of [Marine Protected Areas] on Antarctica," he said.

The alliance will attend the meetings to try to convince member nations to back the proposal.

The results of the meeting are not expected to be known until the meeting winds up in two weeks.